ITV game show host ‘is a serious contender’ to replace Phillip Schofield

An ITV game show presenter ‘is a serious contender’ to replace Phillip Schofield on This Morning after LEAVING the show.

Bradley Walsh, 62, has been tipped to take over the job after Phillip resigned on Saturday after 21 years on the show.

It came amid a reported ‘feud’ with co-host Holly Willoughby and just days after his brother was jailed for 12 years for child offences.

Chase and Blankety Blank star Bradley now has his name in the running to replace him.

Ladbrokes now have him at 7/1, while other contenders include Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark.

Difficult: It came amid a reported ‘feud’ with co-host Holly Willoughby and just days after his brother was jailed for 12 years for child offenses

New face: Bradley Walsh, 62, has been tipped to take over the job after Phillip resigned on Saturday after 21 years on the show

Jessica O’Reilly of Ladbrokes added: ‘IIt’s not out of the question that This Morning bosses are mixing things up by bringing in someone like Bradley Walsh, who is clearly well loved by ITV viewers.’

It comes on the heels of reports that Phillip believes he was “hung out” by This Morning bosses after dramatically announcing he was leaving the role on Instagram on Saturday, following his feud with co-host and former best friend Holly.

The veteran host eventually agreed to the network’s ultimatum that he retired as host of the daytime program after 21 years amid an argument with his co-star – who reportedly told ITV she would leave if he stayed on the show.

He issued a sharp statement on social media thanking fans for their support, but did not mention Holly at all, as sources say he told friends that the channel has “hung him dry.”

Phil – who was believed to have fled on holiday yesterday to visit his mother in Cornwall – now has only ‘flutters’ of his friendship with Willoughby after failing to tell her about his brother’s sexual abuse case.

An ITV source told the Mirror: ‘Phil’s fate was decided on Friday. It was a unanimous decision that he had to go.

He was upset, but determined that if he walked away he wanted to keep his roles on The Cube, the British Soap Awards and Dancing on Ice – crucially, with or without Holly.

Star: The Chase and Blankety Blank star Bradley now has his name in the running to replace him

Difficult: It comes after reports that Phillip believes he was hung to dry by This Morning bosses after he dramatically announced he was leaving the role on Instagram

Goodbye: The veteran presenter finally agreed to the network’s ultimatum that he quit after 21 years as host of the daytime show amid an argument with his co-star

Statements: The pair both commented on Schofield’s departure from the show, with Holly saying: ‘The couch won’t be the same without him’

Complicated: Former close friends Schofield and Willoughby, pictured together on Dancing on Ice in 2006, had grown increasingly apart in recent months

“It’s all been worked out as smoothly as possible, but behind the scenes he’s told friends he’s been left to dry. And his friendship with Holly is now in tatters.

“It’s hard to see how it could recover. That he chose to expressly thank people who supported him – and the viewers – without mentioning her, says it all.’

The once inseparable couple had grown increasingly apart in recent months, but the split became final after Mr Schofield failed to tell 42-year-old Willoughby about his brother’s sexual assault lawsuit.

Phillip left the show after frantic meetings with his representatives and ITV’s top leaders. They agreed to a compromise where he was promised he could host a new show solo and talks around existing shows would continue, The Mirror reported.

It’s not clear exactly who will host the show tomorrow, but it will be someone from the This Morning team.